Beet-blocker.



No. 802,137. PATENTED 001 17, 1905.

T. & G. BUTLER.

BBET BLOGKER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29.1905\ .2 I m\ \w FigE Thomas BzuZez" GeorgeBu/flez" Inventor's Attorneys THOMAS BUTLER AND GEORGE BUTLER, OFJAOKSONPORT, WISCONSIN.

BEET-BLOCKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed April 29, 1905. Serial No. 268,063-

To all LU/LOIIL it may concern.-

Be it known that we, THOMAS BUTLER and GEORGE BUTLER,citiZens of theUnited States, residing at Jacksonport, in the county of Door and Stateof Wisconsin, have invented 'a new and useful Beet-Blocker, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for blocking or thinning beets; and ithas for its object to present adevice whereby this operation may beperformed in a simple, rapid, and economical manner, another object ofthe invention being to present a device of this class constituting aunit which may be manipulated by hand, the construction being such,however, that a plurality of units may be combined to form a device ofgreater capacity for work, which shall be adapted to be propelled bydraft-animals.

With these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of embodiment of the invention, it being, however, understood thatno limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural detailstherein exhibited, but that various changes and modifications may bemade within the scope of the invention and without departing from thespirit or sacrificing the efiiciency of the same.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the units ofthe improved beetblocking device. Fig. 2 is a top plan view illustratinga machine composed of a plurality of units. tional view taken on theplane indicated by the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are perspectivedetail views illustrating modifications in the construction ofthecutters. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of a portion of theblocker-head.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout bysimilar characters of reference.

Each unit of the device comprises a head 1, having in its under side agroove or channel 2 and provided with vertical apertures 3 and slots 4Lfor the passage of fastening means, whereby the cutters and blockers areconnected with said head.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sec- The blockers 5 and 6 each consistof a blade 7, having a front cutting edge 8 and provided at the endsthereof with upstanding arms 9, disposed at right angles to the blade,and provided at their upper extremities with inturned lugs 10, which areapertured for the passage of the bolts or fastening members 11, whichlatter extend through the apertures 3 in the head member 1. The lugs 10are of a width to fit in the channel 2, so that the blockers whensecured by the fastening-bolts will be held very firmly in position. Thecuttingblades 7 are of a width exceeding the width of the arms 9, andsaid blades extend some distance in the rear of said arms in order thatthe plants removed by the blocks may be readily shed from the latter. Itis preferred that the front edges of the arms 9 be sharpened at thelower ends of said arms for a suitable distance above the blades 7 inorder to assist in removing the desired plants without danger ofdisturbing the stands that are to be left.

The blockers 5 and 6 are disposed, respectively, under the center andunder the ends of the head 1, the blocker 5 being of a width exactlyequal to the distance that is to be left between the stands. Theblockers 6 are of less width, it being intended that each of saidblockers 6 shall clear a less space than a complete block, the operationbeing completed on the return trip of the device by overlapping theouter cut previously made, as will be readily understood.

Theouter arm 9 of each of the outer blockers 6 is provided with aplurality of perforations 12 for the passage of bolts or fasteningmembers 13, whereby shoes 14 are mounted adjustably upon the said armsfor the purpose of gaging the depth of the cut. Said shoes are providedwith clips 15, having flanges 16, engaging the arms 9, upon which theshoes will thus be securely mounted.

The head member 1 is provided with aforwardly-extending yoke 17 havingan eye or bearing 18, in which is supported a draft-rod 19, the rear endof which is supported in a bearing 20 upon the head member I. Said rodis provided in front of the bearing 18 with a collar 21, adjustable by aset-screw 22. In rear of the eye 18 the said rod is provided with aloose sleeve or collar 23 and with a set-collar 24, adjustably securedby a setscrew 25, a spring 26 being placed between the collars 23 and24, the tension of which spring is exerted to force the rod 19 normallyin a rearward direction. The draftrod 19 is provided at its front endwith an eye 27 for the reception of a bar or handle member 28.

For the purpose of gaging and regulating the widths of the stands thatare to be left by the blocking operation cutters are provided, the samecomprising each a shank or arm 29, provided at its upper end with aninturned lug 30, engaging the channel 2 in the head where it is securedby means of a bolt 31, extending through one of the slots 4, thusproviding for the lateral adjustment of the cutter. The shanks 29 areprovided at their lower ends with obliquely-disposed upwardly andoutwardly extending blades 32, overlapping the inner edges of theblockers 6. It will be readily seen that the cutters cooperate with thecentral blocker 5 to regulate the width of the stands, the cutters beingadjustable to a greater or less distance from the central blocker, whichwill be governed by the condition of the crop that is to be operatedupon.

The device or unit thus far described may be manually operated bydragging it across the field, the direction of its movement being acrossthe rows of plants. The shoes will regulate the depth of the cut. Ifobstructions should be encountered, the spring 26 will yieldsufficiently to prevent injury to the machine.

To assemble together a plurality of units for operation by animal-power,the several units are connected by the eyes 27 at the front ends of thedraft-rods 19 with an axle member 33, having supportingwheels 3 thillsor shafts 35, connected by a cross-bar 36, carrying the whiffietree37,and brace members 38, connecting said cross-bar with the axle. Thelatter is provided with set-collars 39, whereby the draft-rods of theunits are adjusted and prevented from lateral movement, and saiddraft-rods are provided near their rear ends with upwardly-extendingarms 40, suitably connected therewith and spaced apart by means ofconnecting-rods 41 in such a manner that the rear ends of the units willbe maintained the desired distance apart. The several units are sodisposed as to overlap the distance required to make blocks of therequisite widths.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of" the drawings has been illustrated a modification inthe construction of the cutters and blockers, which consists simply inmaking the arms or upright members of each, (here designated,respectively, 29 and 5,) of two pieces adapted to be separatelyconnected by means of bolts, rivets, or similar fastening devices whichwill enable the blades to be removed when worn out at less expense thanwould otherwise be possible.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawingshereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. Asingle unit makes an effective implement for manual use and enables thesmall farmer to thin the beet-crop with much less expense for labor thanby the use of an ordinary hoe. For operation upon larger crops three ormore units may be connected substantially in the manner described foroperation by one or more draftanimals.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a deviceof the class described, a head member, a plurality of blocking memberssup-.

ported by said head member and each including a blade having uprightsupporting members at the ends thereof; and a cutter having a singlesupporting-upright supported adjustably between two blocking members andoverlapping one of the latter.

2. In a blocker, a plurality of units each comprising a head member,blockers and cutters supported thereby, and a longitudinallyslidabledraft member spring-pressed in a rearward direction; and means for adjustably spacing and connecting the front and rear ends of said units.

3. In a blocker, a plurality of units each comprising a head member,blockers and cutters supported thereby, and a longitudinallymovabledraft member; a wheel-supported axle connecting the front ends of thedraft members; means for spacing said draft members and retaining themagainst lateral movement; and independent spacing and supporting meansfor the rear ends of the units.

4. In a blocker, a plurality of units, spacing and connecting means forretaining said units in overlapped relation, and draft means applied tothe connecting means at the front ends of the units.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have heretoaffixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS BUTLER. GEORGE BUTLER.

Witnesses:

JAMES S. HALSTEAD, Jos. Gr. DALEMQNT.

